The Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) and Fukuoka Prefecture of Japan will be organizing ERIA Regional Network Forum entitled "Economic Integration in East Asia and Strategy in SME Development" on February 1, 2012 at Hotel Okura Fukuoka in Japan.

Fukuoka, one of the prefectures in Kyushu island, leads the region's economy, and seeks more robust economic relationship with the Asian countries, taking its geographical advantage. This is the first Regional Network Forum for Kyushu and Yamaguchi region.

After led by the keynote speeches of Mr.Hiroshi Ogawa, Governor of Fukuoka Prefecture and Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, General-Secretary of ASEAN, ERIA, ERIA Regional Institute Network (RIN) members, and academia, researchers, and management from private sectors in Fukuoka will participate to make presentations and discussions pertaining to the need of economic integration, and issues and opportunities of Japanese SMEs oversea business expansion to Asian countries. The Forum consists of two sessions.

In the first session "Why is the economic integration needed in the East Asia", the necessity of the economic integration in the East Asia and initiatives for SME development, one of the most important issues for ASEAN member countries will be introduced. In the second session "Prospects of SME development through the economic integration in East Asia", with the role of SMEs being important for the economic development, the tasks and potentials of Japanese SMEs, and the issues and opportunities of Japanese SME's business expansion will be discussed. The Forum will be concluded by H.R.H. Samdech Norodom Sirivudh, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace (CICP), Cambodia and closed by Mr. Hidetoshi Nishimura, Executive Director of ERIA.

The forum is expected to be contributed in raising the awareness of the importance of  developing regional economic integration and international cooperation in Japan and attaining the good prospect of SME's business expansion into the Asia.

ERIA Organizes ERIA Regional Network Forum in Fukuoka.pdf